This post bought to you by Aerogard, Mortein & Nuffnang.
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Apparently, there’s a whole new trend called ‘Gramping’. Not to be confused with ‘glamping’, which is also a thing. ‘Glamping’ is glam camping– roughing it with all the luxuries included. ‘Gramping’- which is what we’re discussing here- is camping with your kids…. and your parents.
I’m not sure why that sounds so terrifying. It shouldn’t, really. It’s all about spending tie together, bonding, and sharing experiences. And with my mum so very far away now, any shared experiences are good ones.
Gramping is such a thing that they even have its own representative body– the Gramping Association, sponsored by Aerogard and Mortein. For some reason, they decided to ask me to try out the whole experience of gramping and report back my findings. Maybe because they’ve read that post about how camping makes me feel like a better parent even when I’m yelling at my kids. Maybe because they know the Most Amazing Man is all kinds of crazy for the outdoors. Maybe I’ve blogged about my kid’s horrible mosquito bite allergy and how we should virtually own shares in Aerogard. Who knows?
Anyway. My mum (bless her) has quite happily agreed to forgo her regular weekend trip to Melbourne and meet us in sunny Cobram instead. She’s excited about the prospect of gramping- it’s been quite a while since she’s slept in a tent. We’ve promised her she need only bring herself and her sleeping bag, and we’ll supply the rest.
Packing and preparing to go gramping for the weekend takes just as long as the actual camping trip itself. Especially when you’re providing for small children, and extra people. We make lists, mentally working through all the possible scenarios to ensure we’re prepared for everything. Amidst the slight stress of packing, the excitement level is huge and we’re all very much looking forward to getting away from the city for a few days.
And we shop. An extra, smaller tent. Completely adorable matching camp chairs for the kids. Many, many, many groceries. The list of essentials includes ten litres of water, UNO cards, torches and batteries, wet wipes, antiseptic cream, butane, swimmers, towels, instant coffee, mini boxes of cereal, Barbies and phone chargers. And, of course, much mozzie spray. Aerogard sent us some of their Odourless Protection spray- which, to be honest, is what we use anyway. It doesn’t smell at all and doesn’t feel yucky and greasy on the kidlets skin, and lasts for hours. Mortein provided another essential in the form of their outdoor candle with natural citronella, which looks stylish enough for glamping and gramping and burns for 25 hours.
I’m anticipating much excitement from the kidlets on seeing their Nonna, many games of UNO, some bushwalking, campfire cooked meals, high energy levels from the two small people, and maybe even some relaxation time squeezed in.
I’ll let you know how we get on.
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Sign up to the Gramping Association to receive gramping tips, events, giveaways and offers. You could WIN* one of seven Gramping Adventures for the whole family.
While we’re talking about winning stuff, I’ve got a stack of prizes for you guys to WIN, including….
- 4 x $100 Turu vouchers to give away
- 4 x “Gramping essentials” pack which includes Mortein and Aerogard products
- 4 x $250 Anaconda vouchers
To enter, leave me a comment telling me how and where you go camping, and how a Mortein and Aerogard pack would help you out with that. Entries close 6/04/2014. T’s and C’s can be found here.
*terms and conditions apply. Visit grampingassociation.com.au for full details.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I call our house “luxury camping” because we do have running water and a roof, however, the water is not heated and the roof leaks. But we do live right on the beach, closer to New Guinea than Australia but we are true queenslanders – the most northern northern Aussies. We rely on mortein as Dengue Fever is a real concern. Partner was struck down a few years ago and would hate to see any of our three tin lids experience that.
“Luxury camping” doesn’t extend to reliable internet connection, hence I’ve missed the cut off. Should have commented when I first read but wanted more time to write something readable. Damn, wouldn’t have been any worse than this disappointed dribble.
Aha! I was wrong, turns out we actually are going camping. In my parents backyard for Easter. Bugbreath’s request. Also Pop and I are going to be sneaking around after he’s asleep making animal prints to test his tracking skills – he knows a few of them from bush walking, kangaroos and birds and dogs, so we’re going to lay down one bunny track and some non-bunny to distract him and see if he can find where the Easter Bunny has been. (Do you guys follow tracks when you go bush walking? I have to say my memory of animal signs from when I was little was mostly that it involved a lot of different sized poo.)
We are going to make damper and cook marshmallows. And I’m betting Nana secretly spends the night in her own comfy bed. But for the rest of us out taunting the tiny native biting wildlife, Mortein and Aerogard products much appreciated!
How did the early settlers survive before Mortein??! Did they all walk round with massive itchy bites because someone left the Aerogard back on the first fleet? They did it tough back then but thankgod for Aerogard, God saved this queen when I am camped on the foreshore at Rainbow Beach and I have my Mortein handy. Seriously though I don’t know what I would do without the stuff when camping it makes life better :):)
How did the early settlers survive before Mortein??! Did they all walk round with massive itchy bites because someone left the Aerogard back on the first fleet? They did it tough back then but thankgod for Aerogard, God saved this queen when I am camped on the foreshore at Rainbow Beach and I have my Mortein handy. Seriously though I don’t know what I would do without the stuff when camping it makes life better
We go camping every year at Easter with my parents, this year to Corowa, and I am the person you want sitting next to you when the mozzies come out as they seem to always attack me first. It looks like my 4month old May has the same power of attraction so a Mortein and Aeroguard pack would help protect us both!
we would love to go for camping in a Big4 holiday park on the great ocean road to enjoy the beautiful view, weather and lots of family fun. A Mortein and Aerogard pack will definitely save us from the painful mozzie bites and let us enjoy a lot during our camping trip without worrying about them..
I love going camping. We like to go with either set of grandparents (not least because they have caravans… and fridges!) our last trip was to Araluen, an old gold mining spot. We hoped to pan for gold, but the creek was dry.
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Before kids/hubby I used to go camping with friends. We went during winter to avoid the mozzie’s but always froze our butt off. Had the best time cooking sangs over a fire and blurry staring at the fire in the morning waiting for the silly kettle to boil.
Now with hubby and kids – well I would love to take them camping. The kids are keen as anything. The husband is not…had some very bad camping experiences through school.
But I am certain we will go and the way both the kids and I get eaten alive with mozzies – well the Mortein pack would remove one less complaint by my hubby
We have only managed to go camping once with our little darling, we are about to head off on our second attempt in a few weeks. We are still dealing with scars from our first camp. It was with friends to Kakadu National Park around easter time last year; a sort-of comedy of errors. A monsoonal system moved in on the day we were driving there – most campgrounds were flooded so we stayed in a cabin in Jabiru for the first night. Fun enough! Day two we found a campground only half flooded, with the billabong at least 30 metres away from our camp – we were not being picky – it would do. Kids had a great time playing in the bush around the campsite – until our little cherub got bitten by a ‘hairy ant’ which turned out to be a spider. I freaked out but turned out not to be poisonous, just painful. When dusk and then night came we had a fierce fight with the mozzies despite wearing long sleeves and pants – i felt like a ‘bad mother’ when i saw my daughters legs and arms covered in bites! but thankfully we managed to get some quality sleep. Before the rain kicked in. Two words no camper should ever have to deal with: monsoonal downpour. I woke up around 3am with a migraine (yep) and had to tramp around in the bush outside to find somewhere to relieve my bowels (one of my lovely migraine symptoms) – the ground was soaking wet and squelchy. And I noticed that the billabong was getting closer to our campsite. We woke up in the morning with the billabong edge now about 8 metres away from our tents! Billabongs in Kakadu = saltwater crocodiles. I’ve never packed up a camp so quickly in my life. As we were driving home along the Kakadu highway we saw an enormous saltwater crocodile sitting quietly, jaws open, on the side of the road. I waved goodbye. Action packed weekend, for sure. Mortein and Aeroguard would surely have helped to ease the attack of the mozzies. One challenge less would have been appreciated! Is there an Aeroguard product to repel crocs?
Wow!!! gramping sounds like a great idea. I did it quiet a few of years ago when my grandkids were very young down at Narooma. Beautiful spot on the river. Havent had the chance to do it since then but sounds like something to plan again very soon as they are older now and would enoy it more. Aerogard is always handy and we have it in the glovebox of the car, beachbags etc. I also found out it removes ink on the vinyl interior of the car. it was suggested to me by a friend after a certain grandchild accidently ha ha, drew on the inside vinyl of the car doors. spray, leave and then scrub, vanished soon after.
I’m a fussy camper and only do it when it’s warm. But not too warm. Preferred place is on the Murray River up near Echuca. Aeroguard would be ever so helpful, mozzies seem to love me, but I really hate them. And their Ross River Virus.
All our friends keep going camping and it’s something we don’t do often but really want to get into. I don’t know a heap about it, but know the kids would absolutely love it. I have one child that mosquitoes are attracted to and one that ants are attracted to. I’m sure the mortein and aeroguard would come in VERY handy.
Take me to Sandbar anyday. Such a glorious place. But oh my goodness, the march flies and the mozzies- they only eat me! never the kids, never my partner. I end up complaining while they tease me for my itching!
I got some mozzie bites last Friday night down Anglesea way (caravan park) and they are still driving me crazy! So itchy and swollen. Seriously regretting the lack of repellent. Would love some!
Also this trip (long awaited catch up with friends from our 20s who are now parents in their 30s) we chickened out and got a cabin, so next time we are definitely tenting it – and we need to get all stocked up!
Hi Lori, I take the kids camping/glamping every Xmas down at east beach kiama. We have been doing this for the past 9 years now and I will continue as long as the kids enjoy it. It’s our annual family time. It’s camping in style and we lie in our tents each night and blissfully fall asleep while listening to the waves crash on the beach. the aero guard and mortein would be great for the kids and I as we all get enormous welts from mozzie and ants bites.
Gramping sounds fantastic! My parents are in Wagga and I’m in Newcastle, so I love the idea of meeting halfway for some quality gramping time. Probably around Goulburn I think.
My hubby and kids are allergic to mozzie bites and Aeroguard and Mortein are the most effective products for keeping the little blighters away (the mozzies, not the kids lol). As for how we camp, it’s old school tents and sleeping bags all the way.
lol, my parents have given up on camping. When Mum hit 50 she decided that sleeping on the ground (and getting back up off the ground) was silly business and she was having none of it.
We’re going prawning this week when we all head away. Nothing says fun times with dad like being thigh high in waders in the middle of a river at 2am. Do any of their products help when you’ve sprung a leak and can feel one foot slowly filling up with water?